A spectacle at the Spectrum | Sports Daily Newsletter
And here’s the rundown on Flyers and Sixers playoff games.
Yes, we’re well aware that the Flyers and 76ers are on the road for a pair of playoff Game 1s this weekend. We’ll duly get to our coverage of them in a minute. First, though, we highlight a story about pro wrestling at the Spectrum in the 1970s and ’80s. Let’s have some fun.
Full disclosure: I have zero interest in the WWE, a bloated enterprise that I find annoying, not entertaining. But wrestling at the packed Spectrum back in the day, with Hulk Hogan on the rise, Gorilla Monsoon as color commentator and PRISM on the coverage? That was entertainment, Philly style.
Matt Breen was not even born back then, but he captures those days of the fledgling World Wrestling Federation, when the likes of George “The Animal” Steele and Rowdy Roddy Piper prowled the Spectrum ring. Of course the competition was not real, but it was a real spectacle back then.
— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
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The NHL schedule makers work in strange (really slow) ways, but we finally know now that the Flyers will begin their first playoff series in six years on Saturday with Game 1 at Pittsburgh (8 p.m., ESPN).
The Inquirer goes in-depth with stories on two players who helped this turnaround happen.
Trevor Zegras had his best NHL season in his first one with the Flyers. A former coach with the Ducks explains why Zegras is “one of the most misunderstood people in the NHL.”
Rasmus Ristolainen is finally going to the NHL playoffs. The Flyers’ veteran blueliner toiled through 820 NHL games across 13 NHL seasons — the third-longest drought in NHL history.
Try not to listen to the oddsmakers as you prepare to watch the Sixers play the Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs (Sunday at 1 p.m., 6abc). The Sixers are thinking positive.
VJ Edgecombe went “a little off script” in his postseason debut, a 109-97 play-in victory against the Orlando Magic, coach Nick Nurse said. By game’s end, though, the rookie was his usual, confident self.
Kelly Oubre Jr. knows his impact on both ends of the floor will be needed as the shorthanded Sixers enter the series as significant underdogs. Meanwhile, he remains one of the NBA’s unique characters.
The Phillies are 18 games in, which calculates to 11% of the season. The team has consistently preached patience about its inconsistent offense, but that seems to be wearing thin among fans. The finale against the Cubs on Wednesday saw a lot of the home crowd headed for the exits by the seventh inning.
Elsewhere in the National League East, the Mets are experiencing struggles of their own, sitting in last place as they have lost eight straight. The Braves are holding court at the top, and will come to town today.
Here’s a temperature check on the 8-10 Phillies before a big series against Atlanta.
Next: Taijuan Walker (1-2, 7.36 ERA) will start for the Phillies opposite Braves left-hander Martín Pérez (0-1, 3.14) at 6:40 tonight (NBCSP).
The Eagles seem to be set at off-ball linebacker with starters Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell (once he heals) along with capable backups in Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon. They could fortify the position at next week’s draft, though, and two players with Philadelphia ties could be in the mix.
Sports snapshot
Philly love: A city youth organization will honor leaders in the basketball community with an award named for Dawn Staley.
No Union reunion? Recovering from an injury, D.C. United’s Tai Baribo might not play against his former team on Saturday.
Tennis anyone? The Philadelphia Tennis Classic, a women’s event, will bring the pro game back to the city in August at Penn.
Star siblings: Penn’s Jana and Abdel Dweek both became champions in squash.
Our best sports 📸 of the week
Each Friday, Inquirer photo editors will pick our best shots from the last seven days and share them with you, our readers. This week, photos include the run to the playoffs for the Sixers and Flyers, the Phillies at the Bank, and Penn athletes in action.
We compiled today’s newsletter with contributions from Matt Breen, Alex Coffey, Jackie Spiegel, Gina Mizell, Jeff Neiburg, Devin Jackson, Lochlahn March, Scott Lauber, Jonathan Tannenwald, Dylan Johnson, Sean McKeown, Colin Schofield, and The Inquirer’s photography staff.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Happy playoff weekend, although the weather feels more like the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final should be starting. Thanks for reading. I’ll see you in Monday’s newsletter. — Jim